Reading Sacks Manager
With Nine Games to Go

Heard on the Pitch: Premier League Strugglers Part Company With McDermott, Italian Clubs Shell Out and Scots Send an Invitation

In the midst of its fight against relegation, Reading said Monday that it had sacked its manager Brian McDermott after four years in charge.

Reading is currently 19th in the Premier League, level on points with the bottom team, Queens Park Rangers. The club sits four points from safety with nine games left to play. It has also lost its last four league games, including a crucial match against fellow struggler Aston Villa at home on Saturday.

McDermott became Reading's manager in December 2009 and oversaw the club's automatic promotion to the Premier League last season. "However, in our current situation, owner Anton Zingarevich felt that a change was necessary," the club said in a statement released Monday afternoon.

Reading did not immediately announce a successor.

—Joshua Robinson

Juventus Fined €4,000 Over Balotelli Chants

The Italian league fined Juventus €4,000 ($5,205) for its fans' insulting chants toward Napoli, Catania, and the AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli. The league didn't specify whether the chants were racially motivated, but Balotelli has been a regular target for racial abuse since his return to Italy in January.

In the same announcement, the league said it had fined Lazio €10,000 for unfurling four banners that were insulting to UEFA President Michel Platini.

—J.R.

You Think You Can Coach? Falkirk Invites You to Try

It seems that times are tough at Falkirk, a soccer club languishing in the middle of Scotland's second tier. So tough that after its manager, Steven Pressley, left to take a job with Coventry City on Friday, the club put out an open call for applications to be his successor.

Falkirk published the announcement on its website on Monday, asking simply that applicants send a "CV and any other relevant details" to its general manager, David White. The only requirement was that applicants hold a Scottish Football Association "A" license and already possess, or be in the process of earning, UEFA professional certification.

Falkirk, relegated from the Scottish Premier League in 2010, finished third last season. —J.R.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.